Recommended Bands

[Mark Oakley]

Listening to new Crippled Black Phoenix album - White Light Generator.
Pretty awesome on first airing. I see there are gigs planned late May...in London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Wolverhampton so far...but further dates tba. I'm guessing 'Akko' will know all this.
Demon (Gazpacho) also landed today. Saving that one for the journey home.
Just spotted the Howlin' Rain tip. Will certainly be after that one too.

[akko]

Agree with you there Oakers. One listen so far and it certainly is a powerful record. Have you checked out the video on the CBP website yet?

[Mark Oakley]

Agree with you there Oakers. One listen so far and it certainly is a powerful record. Have you checked out the video on the CBP website yet?

Sure have. I plan to share that slice of 'Northern Comfort' with all my mates up yonder!

[Mark Oakley]

On reflection, after several more spins, I don't think the latest CBP album is nearly as good as either i-Vigilante or 'Mankind.'
That's not to say it isn't good, but after the opening track and both parts of 'No' the next four tracks are a couple of steps too far into the dark for my liking. Parasites in particular is so anarchic and discordant I find it really hard to listen to, and after a very promising start even Northern Comfort goes the same way. The rest is great, but this big chunk of dark noise rather spoils it for me.
No such issues with the new Gazpacho album 'Demon' which arrived at the same time. This one, like all their stuff, just gets better and better. I was unmoved on my first foray with this band, but patience has been more than amply rewarded. In fact...I'm finding it a real struggle to listen to anybody else just lately. (Having said which...it's been Riverside for about the last three hours solid on the work PC).

[akko]

I have to agree with you Oakers about White Light Generator. Definitely not as strong an album but still pretty good. Now then, Gazpacho. I'm still undecided whether to buy something by them. I've listened to those 30 second samples on Amazon and nothing jumps out at me. Mind you, I felt the same about Mogwai and eventually took a punt on them and enjoyed them.  I'll have to investigate a bit further methinks.

[Allan Heron]

I have to agree with you Oakers about White Light Generator. Definitely not as strong an album but still pretty good. Now then, Gazpacho. I'm still undecided whether to buy something by them. I've listened to those 30 second samples on Amazon and nothing jumps out at me. Mind you, I felt the same about Mogwai and eventually took a punt on them and enjoyed them.  I'll have to investigate a bit further methinks.

This is what Spotify's for......... well, one of the things anyway.

[Mark Oakley]

Not sure Spotify will do it with this band...unless you can leave your selection on repeat for about two weeks, which is roughly how long it took March of Ghosts to suck me in! It hasn't yet spat me out.
If you're going to take a punt Akko...start with Tick Tock. Definitely the most accessible and the opening track Desert Flight is the liveliest number they've recorded...and bloody excellent.

[Allan Heron]

Not sure Spotify will do it with this band...unless you can leave your selection on repeat for about two weeks, which is roughly how long it took March of Ghosts to suck me in! It hasn't yet spat me out.

Not a problem if that's what you want to do

[Allan Heron]

Listened to the new Crippled Black Phoenix album this morning.  A strange album which seems somewhat schizophrenic - the tracks before the spoken word interlude (all at the heavier end of the scale) are frankly tedious where those after are more melodic and more interesting.

The other albums I'd listened to mixed these styles up more effectively but they seem to have misplaced that balance on this album

[Mark Oakley]

The other albums I'd listened to mixed these styles up more effectively but they seem to have misplaced that balance on this album

That's unanimous then!